Negative changes and destruction processes occurring in the cartilage tissue of the knees are called arthrosis of the knee joint.This disease is chronic and accompanied by pain symptoms.Most often, knee arthrosis develops with age; at a young age, the post-traumatic form is usually found.The disease is also called gonarthrosis, and its popular name is “salt deposition.”
Signs
Gonarthrosis is the destruction of cartilage tissue due to poor blood circulation in bone vessels.As a result, deforming arthrosis may develop, caused by bone overgrowth.
Usually the first symptoms of arthrosis go almost unnoticed.Mild pain does not cause any particular discomfort and does not limit movements.It may take up to several years until an exacerbation occurs.Pain symptoms may be slightly worse after exercise or stress on the legs.
As the disease progresses, new symptoms appear and old ones intensify.The pain just appears and does not go away for a long time even at rest.Walking for a long time or lifting heavy objects results in prolonged pain in the knees.
After stage 2 of arthrosis of the knee joint, the following symptoms appear:
- Synovitis – articular fluid accumulates in the joint.Its excess can provoke the development of a dense formation on the posterior wall of the joint cavity.This phenomenon is called a Baker's cyst and can be cured without surgery.
- Knee deformity.At first it swells a little, with grades 2 and 3 the shape of the knee may change.
- Crunch.Appears at the 2nd and 3rd stages of the disease.With a sharp crunch, painful symptoms are clearly felt.
- Limited mobility.This is typical for 2nd and 3rd degree arthrosis, when the leg can only be bent at a right angle.When the form is advanced, the knees can be completely immobile, and the joints in them are severely deformed.
- Meteosensitivity.Aching pain during periods of changing weather conditions.
Symptoms and their intensity can vary significantly depending on the stage of development of the disease:
- In grade 1, pain appears after active physical activity.Initial arthrosis damages cartilage tissue, but does not deform the joints.Diagnosis of the disease is difficult.
- In the second degree, the joint space narrows, the damaged cartilage tissue is clearly visible on x-rays.Movements involving the knees cause acute pain; a crunching sound appears when flexing and extending.The joints are working worse and worse, their deformation is noticeable to the naked eye.
- In grade 3, exposed areas of bone “look through” the thinned cartilaginous tissue.Salts are deposited in the joint cavity.The pain persists even during rest.
Types of disease
There are several types of osteoarthritis of the knee.By origin:
- Primary.This type of arthrosis of the knee joint does not depend on other diseases.At risk are older people, women and people with excess body weight.
- Secondary.The disease appears after injury or an infectious disease.It can be avoided if injury or inflammation of the knee joint is treated promptly.
By location:
- Bilateral.Both knees are affected.The disease is age-related, progresses more rapidly and seriously threatens disability.Bilateral arthrosis is most often primary.
- Right-handed.The disease attacks the right knee, most often found in athletes and people who regularly experience stress on the right leg.
- Left-handed.The left knee suffers; the disease is common among athletes and overweight elderly people.
Deforming arthrosis of the knee is a disease that is more common in obese women.It is caused by strong salt deposition.At the initial stage of deformation, the inner side of the joints is affected; at the later stage, the outer side is also affected.Deforming gonarthrosis should be treated as early as possible so that the cartilage tissue in the area above remains in normal condition.The main symptoms are acute pain and crunching.
Patellofemoral syndrome
Very often, knee arthrosis is preceded by patellofemoral syndrome.In medical literature and practice it is often called arthrosis of the same name.This is a lesion of the cartilage tissue located in the patella.Patellofemoral syndrome is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the joint, aggravated by prolonged bending of the leg, jumping, running, walking up stairs or squatting.
- Limited knee mobility.
- Crunching and “clicking” in the joints.
- Stiffness in the joints.
Patellofemoral syndrome usually occurs in people whose activities or lifestyle involve heavy loads on the knees - athletes, obese people.This type of arthrosis also affects older people.Quite often, patellofemoral arthrosis occurs as a consequence of severe knee injury.
When diagnosing the syndrome, it is important to immediately provide rest to the affected leg.Sometimes, your doctor may recommend a brace or a tight bandage to relieve stress on your knee.Overweight people will need to lose excess weight little by little.You can apply cooling compresses at home to relieve pain.
Patellofemoral syndrome develops progressively:
- In grade 1, pain appears only after very heavy exertion, and you often feel tired in the knee.
- With the 2nd – pain and discomfort are recorded more often, the joints are stiff.Symptoms go away after rest.
- With the 3rd – constant pain, significant limitation of movements.
Patellofemoral syndrome needs to be treated comprehensively, and not just to relieve pain.Treatment should include medications, administration of chondroprotectors, and physical procedures.Diet and physical therapy will not be superfluous.
Post-traumatic arthrosis
Post-traumatic arthrosis is a type of disease that most often occurs at a young age.After a knee injury, the limb is immobilized and blood circulation in it deteriorates.This negatively affects cartilage tissue and provokes the development of arthrosis.Sometimes post-traumatic arthrosis can develop after joint surgery.Tissue scarring can cut off the blood supply to the knee.
The post-traumatic form of this disease is chronic, so treatment is aimed at preventing arthrosis from progressing further.It is almost impossible to cure post-traumatic arthrosis on your own at home.It will be necessary to take analgesics, chondroprotectors and antispasmodics, physical therapy, massage and hardware procedures.In advanced cases, surgery may be required.
Hemarthrosis
Hemarthrosis is a separate type of arthrosis of the knee that appears as a result of injury or due to problems with blood clotting.Hemarthrosis can be caused by the following factors:
- bruises or fractures of the knee joint and patella;
- traumatic damage to the meniscus and cartilage tissue;
- rupture of ligaments or synovium;
- fracture of the femur or tibia;
- hemophilia;
- tumors of various origins;
- some neurological and infectious diseases;
- long-term use of anticoagulants;
- osteoarthritis;
- surgical intervention;
- problems with blood vessels.
- the knee is swollen or greatly changed shape;
- when you press under your fingers, you feel a flow of liquid;
- the temperature rises in the injured area;
- tense and blue soft tissues.
Hemarthrosis can be accurately diagnosed only after puncture of the joint.In addition to analyzing the joint fluid, CT and MRI can be done.
To prevent complications, hemarthrosis must be treated immediately.For minor injuries, treatment can begin at home.Simple first aid methods will help minimize the consequences of hemorrhage in the joint:
- provide rest to the injured knee;
- raise your leg and fix it;
- apply a cold compress;
- take a painkiller.
This sequence of actions, even at home, will relieve pain symptoms and help treat mild hemarthrosis; in more complex cases, you need to seek medical help.
Folk remedies
Treatment of gonarthrosis with folk remedies should be agreed with a doctor.It is recommended to combine folk remedies with methods of official medicine.At home, using folk remedies, you can effectively treat mild hemarthrosis or alleviate the patient’s condition with complications.It is recommended to make a compress with horseradish:
- Peel and grate a small piece of horseradish.
- For very sensitive skin, the rhizome is replaced with the leaves of the plant.
- Keep the mixture in a water bath for a couple of minutes.
- Place the root on gauze and make a compress.
- The duration of the procedure is two hours.
At home, for traumatic hemarthrosis, ointments should not be used in the first two days after the injury.
In case of severe injury and heavy or prolonged bleeding in the joint, you should definitely consult a traumatologist.Traditional methods of treatment in this situation are of secondary importance.Hemarthrosis needs to be treated by puncture drainage of blood in the hospital, but at home you can use products with anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effects.An infusion based on the following herbs will be useful:
- yarrow;
- oregano;
- nettle.
They do it like this:
- Grind plant materials.
- Mix herbs in equal parts.
- Pour three tablespoons of the mixture into 600 ml of boiling water.
- Leave for 1 - 1.5 hours.
The warm, strained infusion should be taken three times a day, 50 ml.
Gelatin
At home, you can try to treat arthrosis deformans with gelatin.It contains large quantities of collagen, which improves the condition of cartilage tissue and increases the production of inter-articular lubrication.Treatment with gelatin should be combined with taking a vitamin complex rich in iron and vitamin C.
The medicinal mixture with gelatin is prepared according to the following recipe:
- Pour a teaspoon of gelatin into 50 ml of cold water.
- Leave the mixture for 12 hours.
- Add 150 ml of boiling water.
- After stirring, add a teaspoon of honey.
A glass of this drink with gelatin is drunk on an empty stomach for 10 days.Then you need a week's break.The course is repeated twice more.
Ointments and rubs
To prepare an effective ointment at home, you will need the following components:
- turpentine – 150 ml;
- vodka – 150 ml;
- olive oil – 150 ml;
- camphor - 3 grams.
All components of the ointment must be mixed and applied to the sore spot twice a day.
At home, arthrosis deformans can be treated with radish-based ointment.The following ingredients will be required:
- black radish;
- linden honey – 150 grams;
- vodka – 100 ml;
- sea salt – 15 grams.
Ointment recipe:
- Peel and chop the radish.
- Pass the root vegetable through a meat grinder or grind in a blender.
- Squeeze the juice from the radish.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix the mixture.
Rub the sore knee with this mixture.
Pork fat can be used as an ointment..Every evening you need to rub this product into your joints and insulate them overnight.Arthrosis should be treated in this way for at least six months.
When you need to quickly relieve pain and restore mobility to your leg, warming ointments come in handy.It is important to understand that these remedies are not able to cure the disease, but only temporarily relieve symptoms.Contraindications to the use of warming drugs are post-traumatic arthrosis and damaged skin.
A warming medicine with an anti-inflammatory effect can be made at home.Therapeutic ointment is prepared from the following components:
- comfrey leaves - 1 cup;
- comfrey roots - 2 cups;
- olive oil – 0.5 cups;
- honey – 0.5 cups.
Method of preparation and use:
- Grind and mix plant materials.
- Melt honey, if necessary.
- Mix all ingredients, it is better to do this with a mixer.
- Before use, the required portion of the product must be heated.
- The ointment can be stored for 2 weeks in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer.
- Apply the drug to the joint, insulate it and leave for 8 – 12 hours.
Hyaluronic acid
Primary arthrosis is very effectively treated with hyaluronic acid.This substance is the basis of synovial fluid.Intra-articular injections with hyaluronic acid can cure or stop the development of any type of knee arthrosis.This procedure is prohibited at home!Injections with hyaluronic acid should only be given by an experienced doctor under special conditions.
For its part, the patient can eat foods rich in hyaluronic acid to enhance the therapeutic effect.For joint health, it is recommended to include the following dishes in your diet:
- chicken broth or jellied meat prepared using combs, paws, tendons and skin;
- soybeans;
- tofu;
- soy milk;
- red grape skins;
- red wine;
- starchy roots and vegetables.
To activate the production of hyaluronic acid by your own body, it must receive enough calcium, rutin and vitamin C.